In order to support the expansion of its eCommerce offering- Shop and Ship- with specialist marketing capabilities, Aramex has selected OMD to manage its digital media and communications. The move comes at a time when eCommerce is growing rapidly both globally and locally.

Shop and Ship, the online shopping delivery service powered by Aramex, allows users to purchase items from international websites and have them shipped to consumers living in 52 destinations around the world. The service is not only proving popular in the GCC but is also earmarked for further expansion on an international scale. Research has shown strong demand for these services in growth markets in Africa and Asia where Aramex is already operating and planning to further strengthen its footprint.

In order to realize its full growth potential, the company looked for a digital specialist with proven expertise and performance in the online space.

“As an e-business, we needed a partner who understands eCommerce as well as the role digital media and all its facets can play in advancing our business in the industry. Moreover, we needed a strong global network that could support our aggressive expansion plans to connect growth markets around the world,” explained Hassan Mikail, Global eCommerce Director at Aramex. “We found that in OMD. Like us, they are a first-mover in that space and have demonstrated their performance over the years. Beyond their strong capabilities in digital media, they’ve demonstrated an impressive understanding of our business needs and the way forward for us.”

“Nothing excites us more at OMD than the challenge to grow a brand and actively contribute to its success,” commented Nadim Samara, managing director of OMD UAE & Lower Gulf. “Shop and Ship ticks a lot of boxes for us as it is a stimulating challenge. It is also the validation of the organizational structure we’ve implemented last year to enhance our agility and effectiveness.”

“Shop and Ship presents us with a great opportunity to deploy a holistic, digitally focused approach that transcends communication to incorporate transactions,” added Waseem Afzal, head of digital at OMD UAE. “This strategic partnership is a testament to our ability to deliver results-driven solutions and leverage media innovatively in an ever-converging environment. As the eCommerce landscape continues to gain momentum in the region, this partnership with Aramex will allow us both to perform at our best.”

The MENA region represents the fastest growing eCommerce region in the world, with an estimated 45% year-on-year increase.